Gaelic letter about the Rev. Dr. Norman MacLeod, 'Friend of the Gaels'

Gaelic letter about the Rev. Dr. Norman MacLeod, 'Friend of the Gaels'

ID: CLI_GAELIC_LETTER_107 DESCRIPTION: This audio extract in Gaelic is from 'Leabhar nan Litrichean' - 'Book of Letters', a teaching resource for Gaelic learners, published by Clì Gàidhlig and first broadcast on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. This letter is about the Reverend Dr. Norman MacLeod, 'Caraid nan Gàidheal', 'Friend of the Gaels'. 'Èirich agus tiugainn O, Èirich agus tiugainn O, Èirich agus tiugainn O, Mo shoraidh slàn le Fionnairigh Tha mi an dùil gu bheil a' chuid mhòr agaibh eòlach air na faclan sin, agus air an òran às an tàinig iad. Seo a' chiad rann dheth: Tha an latha math 's an soirbheas ciùin, Tha an ùine a' ruith, 's an t-àm dhuinn dlùth, Tha am bàt' gam fheitheamh fo a siùil, Gam thoirt a-null à Fionnairigh. 'S e tiotal an òrain "Soraidh slàn le Fionnairigh" agus tha e mu dheidhinn àite ann am Morbhairne, mu choinneamh Eilean Mhuile. Ach cò sgrìobh e? Dh'fhaodainn a ràdh gun deach a sgrìobhadh leis an Ollamh Urramach Tormod MacLeòid, air an robh am frith-ainm, "Caraid nan Gàidheal", agus a bha uaireigin gu math ainmeil ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig, ach cha bhiodh sin buileach ceart. Feumaidh mi mìneachadh. Bha Tormod MacLeòid beò eadar na bliadhnaichean seachd ceud deug, ochdad 's a trì (1783) agus ochd ceud deug, seasgad 's a dhà (1862). 'S e gille a' mhansa a bh' ann. Rugadh e agus thogadh e ann am Fionnairigh far an robh athair na mhinistear. Chaidh Tormod a-steach don mhinistrealachd e fhèin, agus bha e an toiseach ann am Muile, agus an uair sin ann an àiteachan eile air tìr-mòr Earra-Ghàidheal. Ghluais e don Ghalltachd às dèidh sin agus bha e greis ann an Siorrachd Shruighlea agus ann an Glaschu, far an do ghabh e ceum ollaimh ann an Diadhaireachd. Bha e na Mhoderàtor do dh'Eaglais na h-Alba ann an ochd ceud deug, trithead 's a sia (1836). Bha e math math mar shearmonaiche, gu h-àraidh ann an Gàidhlig, agus choisinn e cliù dhà fhèin ann an Èirinn, far an d' rachadh e bho àm gu àm. Bha Gàidhlig na h-Èireann aige gu fileanta, agus chruthaich e fhèin 's fear Èireannach eatarra leabhar de shailm ann an Gaeilge airson Eaglais na h-Èireann. Ach tha e air a chuimhneachadh an-diugh gu seachd àraidh airson dà rud - an obair a rinn e airson na Gàidhlig ann an Alba, agus na rinn e às leth nan daoine bochda air a' Ghàidhealtachd. 'S ann airson sin a chuireadh am frith-ainm air 'Caraid nan Gàidheal'. Tha an teacs airson òraid a thug e seachad turas ann an Lunnainn fhathast againn, agus tha e a' togail dealbh dhuinn dhen dòrainn a bha a' bualadh air an t-sluagh aig an àm. Sluagh gun obair, gun airgead is, ann an cuid de dh'àiteachan, gun bhiadh. Bha Tormod MacLeòid ag iarraidh an cuideachadh. Agus bha e na shàr-Ghàidheal. Thòisich e iris Ghàidhlig, an Teachdaire Gaelach, ann an ochd ceud deug is naoi air fhichead (1829). Bha i làn artaigilean mu dheidhinn cuspairean cho farsaing ri eachdraidh, poileataigs an latha, cruinn-eòlas, saidheans is creideamh. Gu mì-fhortanach, ge-tà, cha do mhair an Teachdaire ach dà bhliadhna. Dh'fheuch e a-rithist le iris eile, Cuairtear nan Gleann, ann an ochd ceud deug is ceathrad (1840) ach mhair sin dìreach trì bliadhna. Anns an eadar-ama, ge-tà, rinn e obair air faclair agus air grunn leabhraichean eile. Agus bha e an sàs ann a bhith a' brosnachadh Eaglais na h-Alba gus barrachd a dhèanamh airson foghlam na Gàidhlig. Ach dè mu dheidhinn "Soraidh Slàn le Fionnairigh"? Carson a thuirt mi nach b' e Tormod MacLeòid fhèin a bha buileach air a sgrìobhadh? Bha mi a' ciallachadh gun do sgrìobh e ann am Beurla e, mar "Farewell to Fiunary" agus gur e Gilleasbaig Mac na Ceàrdaich a dh'eadar-theangaich gu Gàidhlig e. Ach chanainn gum biodh Tormod MacLeòid toilichte gu bheil an t-òran nas ainmeile an-diugh anns a' chànan aige fhèin dhan do rinn e uiread a chionn còrr is ceud gu leth bliadhna. The English translates as: Rise up and come with me O Rise up and come with me O Rise up and come with me O My fond farewell to Fiunary I expect most of you are familiar with these words, and with the song from which they came. Here's the first verse of the song: The day is fine, the wind is gentle, The hours are wearing on and it's nearly time The boat is under sail and waiting for me To take me away from Fiunary. The title of the song is "A Fond Farewell to Fiunary" and it's about a place in Morvern, across from the Isle of Mull. But who wrote it? I could say that it was written by the Rev. Prof Norman MacLeod, who had the nickname 'Friend of the Gaels', and who was once fairly famous in the world of Gaelic, but that wouldn't be exactly right. I must elucidate. Norman MacLeod lived between 1783 and 1862. He was a son of the manse. He was born and brought up in Fiunary, where his father was the minister. Norman entered the ministry himself, at first in Mull and then in other places on the mainland in Argyllshire. He moved to the Lowlands after that and spent some time in the the County of Stirling and in Glasgow, where he graduated in Theology. He became Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1836. He was a very good sermoniser, especially in Gaelic, and he also won a reputation in Ireland, where he went from time to time. He spoke Irish Gaelic fluently and, along with an Irishman he produced a book of Psalms in Irish Gaelic for the Church of Ireland. But he's remembered today particularly for two things - the work he did in Scotland for Gaelic, and for all he did for the poor people of the Highlands. That was why he was given the nickname 'Friend of the Gaels. We still have the text of a speech he delivered in London once, where he paints a vivid picture for us of the pitiful state of the people at that time. People with no work, with no money and in places, with no food. Norman wanted to help them. And he was also a true Gael. He started up a Gaelic magazine, the Gaelic Messenger, in 1829. It was full of articles on subjects as diverse as history, current politics, geography, science and religion. Unfortunately, the Messenger only lasted for two years. He tried again with another magazine, Visitor of the Glens, in 1840, but that lasted just three years. In the meantime, though, he worked on a dictionary and on various other books. And he was involved in trying to encourage the Church of Scotland to do more for Gaelic education. But what about 'Farewell to Fiunary'? Why did I say that Norman did not really write it himself? I meant that he wrote it in English as "Farewell to Fiunary", and that it was Archibald Sinclair who translated it into Gaelic. But I'd say that Norman MacLeod would be pleased that the song is more famous today in his own language, for which he did so much, more than one hundred and fifty years ago. CREATOR (AV): Norman MacLeod DATE OF RECORDING: 2007 PERIOD: 2000s SOURCE: Clì Gàidhlig COLLECTION: Leabhar nan Litrichean Asset ID: 41119 KEYWORDS: